DHAKA, May 11, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued a strong warning against unleashing vandalism in the educational institutions, saying that her government won’t allow such crimes.
“I tell the students that no vandalism will be tolerated… The students will ransack educational institutions — this won’t be allowed in any way,” she said in a function here this afternoon.
Sheikh Hasina said she has already instructed the law enforcement agencies to take actions against such vandalisms. “My directives to the law enforcement agencies are in force to take actions against the offenders whoever they might be and whichever party they may belong to,” she added.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating the 29th National Council of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as the chief guest at the historic Suhrawardhy Udyan in the city.
BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag presided over the inaugural session of the council of the country’s oldest student organisation
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Chief Election Commissioner for electing new committee and BCL Vice-President Arifur Rahman Limon, Convenor of Council Preparation Sub-Committee Kazi Enayet and Convenor of Reception Sub-Committee Delwar Hossain Shahjada spoke on the occasion, while BCL General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain presented the organisational report.
Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the council by hoisting the national flag and releasing pigeons and balloons, while BCL President Sohag and General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain raised the organisation flag.
The prime minister said her government has spent a huge amount of money for the development of every educational institution. “We have constructed new hostels and opened new subjects there,” she said.
She said though there is autonomy in the public universities, all their expenditures are met by the government.
Sheikh Hasina said the residence of Dhaka University vice-chancellor was vandalized and looted in the name of movement and such a heinous incident didn’t take place in the history.
She said investigation into the offence is underway and a number of criminals were arrested. “We’ve directed the law enforcement agencies to take action against those who were involved in vanadalizing and looting of the VC’s residence,” she said.
The premier said it’s not proper to make demand in every word. “We know well that how the welfare of the country could be made, how the country be developed, standard of education be improved and educated nation be built … the country is advancing as we know it,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina thanked the common students, including the BCL, for maintaining peaceful atmosphere on the campus. “Except one or two incidents, no untoward incidents happened in the last nine years of our government. But I don’t want any untoward incident to take place on the campus,” she said.
The prime minister asked the teachers to discard grouping in the name of teachers’ politics. “I will tell the teachers that they will be involved in conflict and the students will suffer from it — I don’t want it. How the students will learn if the teachers are engaged in conflict?” she questioned.
The prime minister mentioned she spends her whole day except 5/6 hours for the work of the country and said the government will look into the matter if anybody has anything to say.
“I make all sorts of arrangement for solving any problem if anybody comes to me,” she said and added: “But we won’t allow excessiveness about anything.”
Urging all concerned not to use digital technology for destructive work, she said the government announced to build Digital Bangladesh so that the country’s boys and girls learn from it, not for its misuse.
The prime minister asked the students community to keep themselves away from terrorism, militancy and drug addiction. “If anybody is caught red handed for this kind of social menace, punishment will be taken against him or her side by side with expulsion,” she said.
In this connection, the premier said she has already directed the law enforcement agencies to take stern actions against terrorism, militancy and drug abuse.
Sheikh Hasina also urged the students community to abide by traffic rules properly and maintain the campus neat and clean.
About Bangladesh’s graduation to a developing country, the prime minister said the country achieved the success by lagging 16 countries behind. “The world people were surprised for this success and it will have to be kept up,” she said.
The prime minister reiterated her determination to build Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041 and sought cooperation of the students to attain the goal.
Sheikh Hasina advised the BCL to elect new leaders of the organization through consensus. “You’ll have to keep in mind that nothing could be achieved without making sacrifice,” she said.
Recalling the history of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the AL president said Bangabandhu formed it in 1948 and developed it as leading student front for establishing rights of the Bangalees. She said the organization had a glorious past and played a crucial role in all struggles and movements starting from the Language Movement.
Referring to the historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina said the unparalleled leader’s fiery speech has now been recognised as one of the most valuable ones in the world history.
Putting emphasis on learning from the firm character of the Father of the Nation, she said the leaders and workers must read the book “Unfinished Memoirs of Bangabandhu” as it gives the guidelines and helps know Bangladesh’s history afresh.